The Mourinho Thread

[xPetrCechx 13,570]

It was not a fantastic performance by any stretch of the imagination, but no one can deny that we controlled the match and steered it in the direction that we wanted it to go, and that is largely down to Jose.

Though I still believe that we would have had a better performance had Mikel started in the center ahead of Zouma who looked nervous as hell every time in possession and made several nearly-costly mistakes in the first 20 mins.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Lol You think we did not control the match? We made united play EXACTLY as we wanted them to: No long balls to Fellaini, spaces in the middle not down the flanks, not allowing their wingers to cut on the other foot and cross which is one of their biggest threats, man-marked midfielders, especially Fellaini, to prevent Falcao laying it off to them in the hole around the box...etc.

Like I said, it wasn't a great performance, but united got nothing from their usual tactics.

[hjperdeath 2,226]

Lol You think we did not control the match? We made united play EXACTLY as we wanted them to: No long balls to Fellaini, spaces in the middle not down the flanks, not allowing their wingers to cut on the other foot and cross which is one of their biggest threats, man-marked midfielders, especially Fellaini, to prevent Falcao laying it off to them in the hole around the box...etc.

Like I said, it wasn't a great performance, but united got nothing from their usual tactics.

People need to differentiate control with possession.

[Special Juan 28,089]

Where are the haters now?

We created a moaning thread and we can't even get some of them in there now.

Some pop in for morning tea, some just come in for a browse but most of all they stay under their rocks.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

People need to differentiate control with possession.

It's all the self-righteous 'proper football' crap. People just assume that every team in every single match will ideally look to keep possession as long as possible because Pep's Barcelona are the ultimate footballing model.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

If you want to bring up Ancelotti, the football we played in his second season was worse than anything we have played this season, or even under AVB for that matter.

and why exactly are you going down the fan boy route? Jose is one of the most influential characters in the club's history whether you like it or not, aren't we suppose to love and support people who have such an influence on our club and given and still is giving us great memories, or have I not read the memo?

Agreed, Tomo with the bolded. And I do love and support Mourinho for what he has done, even if I might not show it as zealously as some other posters. I supported him and followed his career intently when he wasn't even a Chelsea manager for god's sake. I love the geezer. I have never known any Chelsea staff member who has defended this club in public more than Mourinho has. I appreciate Mourinho for what he will win for the club this season, a league and cup double. I'm sure I'll be celebrating like a madman when we win the league.. But I also know we are a big enough club to expect both titles and entertaining football. This team is more than strong enough to do it, that's a cheap excuse. The brutal fact is, there is no big team in Europe this sort of football. Remember, Jose was not the favourite or even the 2nd favourite to get the Chelsea job. A proper Chelsea legend not being the favourite? Ever asked yourself why? I can also run a list of other top European clubs who won't want Mourinho as manager because of primarily his team plays football but I won't go there.

I don't believe Mourinho is the right manager for this group of players. I'm sure that I will be vindicated sometime in the future, regardless of how unpopular it might make me on a Chelsea forum. I hope the man stays forever, but I know in my heart of hearts the football he knows best to play is not sustainable long-term for a big club. UNLESS, Mourinho gets an attacking coach to help with the side of football he is so clearly not strong at. He will be a better manager for it.

Right now, I'm sure he knows he hasn't been good enough in Europe because of his weakness. 4-1 to Dortmund (though they won the 2nd leg 2-0 tbf), 3-1 to Atletico Madrid and worst of all, losing to 10 man PSG at home. Anyone who wants to see the weaknesses in Mourinho as a manager, re-watch both legs carefully. It's not simply about signing world class players and relying on their individual brilliance to win matches. What about when they come up against other teams with equally good players? All of a sudden, what do we do?

Mourinho's Chelsea is not even that solid defensively anymore. In his first spell, when he set up his teams to defend, Petr barely had any saves to make. Now, the opposition are working Courtois left, right and centre, hitting the post and we are getting lucky breaks. The reason is the players we have now (Hazard's, Oscar's, Fabregas', Willian's) are being told to play a brand of football that is foreign to them and we've been found out vs Europe's elite.

Anyway, I don't want to labour my points any further and frustrate any other posters by bringing up uncomfortable issues and repeating the same stuff over and over. It's too easy to get along with everyone here by just being smiley-happy and going for the ride. I know it will make me unpopular, but I'm more concerned about the long term success of the club.

I want the love story between Chelsea and Jose Mourinho to be unbreakable and last for as long as he goes on to manage Portugal in his sixties or whatever, but Mourinho and by extension, Chelsea, needs a strong attacking coach. It's not about Marco Reus or Paul Pogba. I read rumours of Zola on twitter about a week ago, but i'm not sure he is up for that job.

[TheOneChan95 225]

Lol You think we did not control the match? We made united play EXACTLY as we wanted them to: No long balls to Fellaini, spaces in the middle not down the flanks, not allowing their wingers to cut on the other foot and cross which is one of their biggest threats, man-marked midfielders, especially Fellaini, to prevent Falcao laying it off to them in the hole around the box...etc.

Like I said, it wasn't a great performance, but united got nothing from their usual tactics.

Good point. I'd say we were only outplayed in the opening 30 minutes or so where we just seemed kinda lost. I was honestly only panicked once the whole game when Rooney had that shot and I thought it went in for a moment. When the team settled in it was really different and we started picking them apart. I honestly wasn't that worried throughout the rest of the game and when Shaw came off I felt they just became toothless. They had the ball but it never moved around quickly into dangerous areas since we were prepared for them.

. I'd say United fans should be thankful both Remy and Costa weren't fit, they would have defo pounced on that backline. Not exactly the same as our performance vs City last season but a solid one and most importantly, 3 FUCKING POINTS CLOSER TO THE TITLE.

[duren batu 15]

@excalibur

I will give him five year to see if there would be change or not.

[didierforever 7,349]

Cahill made an amazing block on Falcao, John Terry was amazing, the keeper was there for us all the time, Azpilicueta was for me the best player on the pitch and Ivanovic was fantastic. Matic worked like an animal, Zouma put Fellaini out of the game, our number 11 [Drogba] was another animal, fighting against two kids young enough to be his sons. Hazard was what you know, Oscar worked fantastically well, Ramires came in and gave us what we needed, Mikel came in for two minutes and held the ball. Willian [has] been in bed for two days and today he came straight from his house, making himself available to give us some help, he was fantastic."

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Mourinho out.

[Stingray 9,441]

Mourinho out.

And sack the lot of 'em too. All them shit players.

[Heisenberg 1,824]

It's all the self-righteous 'proper football' crap. People just assume that every team in every single match will ideally look to keep possession as long as possible because Pep's Barcelona are the ultimate footballing model.

Pep's Barcelona are the ultimate footballing model because they won it all, we'd only dream of beating Madrid 5-0 for an example, so we all should take note of that era.